Book claims lost gold mine found

Legendary Adams Diggings could be in Black Range

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Author Marshall Bulle, seated, and his partner Larry Ditzer claim they found the Lost Adams Diggings gold mine in the Black Range Mountains of southern New Mexico. Bulle and Ditzer explored and researched the area for over 30 years and have published a book of their accounts.(Photo: Bill Armendariz - Headlight Photo)Buy Photo

DEMING — Three decades of scouring the black range has uncovered evidence suggesting that the fabled Lost Adams Diggings are located in New Mexico’s Black Range Mountains.

In a new book written by Marshall Bulle (with the help of his friend Larry Ditzer), "Hidden Treasures of The Black Range," two childhood friends have spent the last 30 years searching the black range and revealing clues as to the true location of the Lost Adams Diggings.

Adams (first name only) was journeying in his wagon from the state of New York to Tucson. Along the way, he met a group of 21 miners led by John Brewer traveling together in search of the gold fields. A Pima-Mexican guide promised the prospectors to lead them to the valley of gold in 1862.

Along with their guide, the group entered western New Mexico. According to Adams, the miners entered a canyon with a fantastic gold deposit through a narrow passage. Within a few days the group collected a fortune of gold nuggets.

The guide left on the second day, but issued a warning that they were in Apache territory.

The miners continued pulling gold until they ran out of supplies. A large party of Indians had reached the camp and killed the miners while Adams was away in search of provisions.

Days later, Adams wandered in the wilderness out of his mind. He was rescued by military on patrol.

Upon recovery Adams settled in California and when the Apache Wars ended, he led several expeditions to find the canyon and the basin filled with gold. Adams must have had a terrible sense of direction, after so many years of searching his quest proved hopeless. But in his search he inspired others to joint the hunt.

The Bulle and Ditzer search started in 1986, originally searching for a Spanish cannon hidden somewhere amongst the treacherous cliffs and terrain that make up the Black Range.

Although the landscape itself seemed to be against them, the two explorers were compelled to uncover the true location of the lost diggings.

The search for the lost cannon eventually led them to landmarks that undoubtedly were shown in the old maps leading to the dig site.

“It was as if we were being led in that direction” Bulle said in an interview. The expeditions were no simple feat, with most of them lasting about seven days. Dehydration starvation and dangerous wildlife were threats that loomed over them throughout the searches, and in such a remote location, tragedy could occur with little to no help available. They were on their own.

The team had five helicopter trips with over 20,000 aerial photos taken before they were able to find the cannon, which was rumored to guard the lost gold mine, but before they could go to the site and find the cannon on foot, it was gone.

The mystery itself does not only involve why it was taken, but the means it would’ve taken to move such an artifact. Evidence suggested a larger helicopter came and airlifted it away but where and why, remain a mystery.

Even though the cannon was nowhere to be found, the two continued their search. Bulle stated they had an “extreme passion to figure out what was out there." The historical value of these finding was the only thing the two were after.

Gold fever never struck the team in their quest to uncover the diggings. The two friends were not searching for profit, but for the truth as to the exact location of the mine so this old legend could be put to rest.

The team however, did not find the Lost Adams Diggings in their expeditions, but they did uncover indisputable evidence suggesting the diggings are here in New Mexico’s Black Range lying in wait for someone to discover it.

Everything they experienced can be found in their book, "Hidden Treasures of the Black Range." The book has all of their accounts and photographs of their experiences in their search for the Lost Adams Diggings.